Rick Derringer, who had a hit with 'Hang On Sloopy' and produced 'Weird Al,' dies at 77

Guitarist and singer Rick Derringer has died. The musician who shot to fame at 17 when his band The McCoys recorded “Hang On Sloopy” died Monday in Ormond Beach, Florida. He was 77. Derringer had a hit with “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo” and earned a Grammy Award for producing “Weird Al” Yankovic’s debut album. Derringer’s decades in the music industry spanned teen stardom, session work for bands like Steely Dan, supplying the guitar solo on Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart” and producing Cyndi Lauper. In 1985, he produced the World Wrestling Federation’s “The Wrestling Album,” which would give Hulk Hogan his theme song, “Real American.”

A former aide says Sean 'Diddy' Combs kidnapped her in a plot to kill Kid Cudi

NEW YORK (AP) — A former top aide to Sean “Diddy” Combs has testified at his sex trafficking trial that the music mogul threatened her with death on her first day on the job. She also says he later waved a gun as he kidnapped her in an angry rush to find and kill rapper Kid Cudi. Capricorn Clark was the former global brand director for Bad Boy Entertainment, and her account Tuesday launched the third week of testimony in the trial. Prosecutors are trying to prove Combs led a racketeering conspiracy for 20 years that relied on fear and violence to ensure he got what he wanted. Combs has pleaded not guilty.

Music Review: Miley Cyrus' 'Something Beautiful' is a return to form. 'Hannah Montana' fans, rejoice

LOS ANGELES (AP) — For longtime Miley Cyrus fans, the singer's ninth studio album is bound to live up to its name. It truly is “Something Beautiful.” In her review, The Associated Press' Krysta Fauria says Cyrus' new album is an eclectic tapestry of pop, rock, electronic, disco and even funk. She says the record is also a return to form for the 32-year-old singer, whose pop reputation has always been in tension with her interest in other genres. But she also demonstrates, through her electronic songs in particular, how her sound has evolved and expanded over time.

Book Review: 'Steve Martin Writes the Written Word' shows depth of comedian's talent

“Steve Martin Writes the Written Word” is a collection of the comedian's written works over the decades. The Associated Press' Andrew DeMillo writes that the collection showcases Martin's versatility as a writer, and is an introduction to audiences only familiar to his work on screen. The book includes Martin's debut 2000 novella “Shopgirl," as well as selections from his previously published work in The New Yorker. DeMillo writes that some of the book's funniest selections fittingly focus on the written word, and that the book shows why Martin's talent has endured.

Brazilian nuns go viral after beatboxing on Catholic TV

SAO PAULO (AP) — Two Brazilian nuns have gone viral after dropping an impromptu beatbox and dance session during a Catholic television program. Sisters Marizele Cassiano and Marisa de Paula, members of the “Copiosa Redenção” congregation, were talking about a vocational retreat on Brazil’s Pai Eterno — Eternal Father — TV channel when they brought up a song about being called to the religious life. The two stood up and launched into a routine, complete with singing, beatbox and dance moves. Then the presenter, Deacon Giovani Bastos, joined in, matching Sister de Paula’s moves in a performance that’s now been seen by millions on social media in Brazil and abroad.

Trump set to pardon reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley of fraud and tax evasion convictions

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he’s planning to pardon TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, famous for “Chrisley Knows Best,” a reality show that followed their tight-knit family and extravagant lifestyle. The Chrisleys were convicted in 2022 of conspiring to defraud banks in the Atlanta area out of more than $30 million in fraudulent loans by submitting false documents. They were also found guilty of tax evasion by hiding their earnings while showcasing a luxurious way of living that prosecutors said included luxury cars, designer clothes, real estate and travel. The move continues a pattern of Trump pardoning some high-profile friends, supporters, donors and former staffers.

To win the Scripps National Spelling Bee, contenders must also master geography

OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — There are times when the Scripps National Spelling Bee transforms into a geography bee. Scripps has begun relying on obscure geographical terms to winnow down the field of spellers in the later rounds. While the words are included in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged dictionary, they often don’t follow familiar roots or language patterns. That denies accomplished spellers of the tools they use to figure out how to spell words they've never seen before. Some spellers say the best way to deal with geographical names is just to memorize them. The National Spelling Bee began Tuesday and concludes Thursday at a convention center outside Washington.

Bono: 'The world has never been closer to a world war in my lifetime'

CANNES, France (AP) — Bono has a seaside villa that’s a short trip away from Cannes. That doesn’t mean the Cannes Film Festival is a particularly familiar experience for the U2 frontman, though that’s changing this year. He’s at the festival to premiere the Apple TV+ documentary “Bono: Stories of Surrender” on Thursday, which captures his one-man stage show. “Bono: Stories of Surrender,” an Andrew Dominik-directed black-and-white film that begins streaming May 30, adapts the one-man stage show that, in turn, came from Bono’s 2022 book, “Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story.” Bono tells The Associated Press the project has brought him new clarity about who he is, and also revealed a new appreciation for his father, who died in 2001.

Book Review: Quirky private eye tracks a couple more killers in Stephen King’s 'Never Flinch'

Who knew Stephen King would one day create his very own Sherlock Holmes? Holly Gibney, the private investigator from Dayton, Ohio, returns in “Never Flinch,” cracking two cases, both of which feature, in the words of Associated Press reviewer Rob Merrill, “killers with dead Daddy issues.” Even with two killers talking to themselves, Holly is still the star of the book. She continues to “attract weirdos the way a magnet attracts iron filings,” is how Holly’s friend Barbara puts it. Readers will enjoy spending time with Holly again as the story culminates at the place where psychopath Brady Hartsfield began his killing spree in "Mr. Mercedes.”

Book Review: 'Fatherhood' studies the impact of family ties through history

Augustine Sedgewick looks at how fathers' roles and impact have evolved over time in “Fatherhood: A History of Love and Power.” The Associated Press' Andrew DeMillo writes that the book may not offer a clear answer on what fatherhood is, but that it includes enlightening stories about how several famous figures have approached life as fathers. The book looks at a motley assortment of dad, including Charles Darwin and Bob Dylan. DeMillo writes that the book is a timely read for a point when family roles continue to be challenged.